Insole



UNITED STATES PATENT JAMES E. MCVILLIAM, OF HUBBARDSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

INSOLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,670, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed September 30, 1896. Serial No. 607,4;02. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. 1VICVILLIAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hubbardston,in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Insoles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of composite insoles which have heretofore ordinarily been provided with an upper layer or surface of sheepskin having a surface of natural wool; and the especial object of my invention is to improve and cheapen this class of insoles by forming the upper layer thereof from a fabric having wool loosely woven therein and then carded or combed out upon the surface thereof.

To these ends my invention consists of the insole and its features of construction, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an insole constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of an insole with the difierent layers thereof turned back to more clearly show the construction, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of one of the weft or filling threads which I preferably employ in weaving the fabric which forms the upper layer of my insole.

In making up an insole constructed according to my invention I employ a backing A, of rubber. Vulcanized onto the upper surface of the rubber backing A is a plurality of layers of thin cotton cloth, and cemented on top of the cotton cloth is an upper layer or fabric 0.

The fabric or cloth 0, which I employ to form the upper layer of an insole constructed according to my invention, is woven with ordinary cotton or other desired warp-threads and with a specially-prepared filling of weftthreads.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, one of the weft or filling threads 10 of the fabric 0 consists, essentially, of a thread or core 11, having an outer covering of wool 12 loosely spun or twisted around the same.

When the fabric 0 to form the upper layer of my insole has been woven in any of the ordinary manners, the wool wrapped or spun around the filling-threads thereof is carded or combed out upon the upper surface of the fabric, thus providing an upper layer or wearing-surface for my insole, which is much stronger, uniform, and less expensive than the natural-wool coverings heretofore employed.

In addition to cementing the parts of my composite insole together in practice I also preferably employ a line of securing-stitches, as illustrated at 13, and in most instances I medicate my insole by incorporating suitable powder into the body portion thereof, and as the meshes of the fabric 0, forming the upper surface of my insole, are preferably quite coarse the powder or medicated compound which I employ can readily work through the same, which would not be the case in prior constructions employing sheepskin as an up per layer.

I am aware that insoles embodying wearing-surfaces of cotton-flannel or similar napped material have heretofore been employed and that insoles having upper surfaces formed from felt or similar matted material have also been used, and I disclaim such constructions.

The use of cotton to form the wearing-surface of an insole is objectionable, as cotton is not a good absorbent and When presented to the sole of the foot will quickly become soggy and disagreeable.

The especial object of my invention is to provide a composite insole with a textile wearing-surface stronger and more durable than felt and formed from cotton or similar material having wool embodied therein, said wool being brushed or combed out on the upper surface of the fabric.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

As an article of manufacture, an insole comprising a rubber bucking A, cotton-cloth In testimony whereof I have hereunto set layers B Vulcanized onto said backing, and my hand in the presence of two subscribing 1c an upper layer of textile fabric having weft Witnesses.

or fillin threads, each com rising a cotton l Y core, with wool loosely twisted around the JAMES ILLIAM' same, said Wool being brushed or combed out Witnesses:

onto the upper surface of the fabric, substun- E. M. IIEALY,

tially as described. LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE. 

